Love horoscopes: May 12 – May 18

Christopher Renstrom is the creator of Rulingplanets.com which is his idea of an on-line, subscription-based, interactive Astrology Magazine. It is based on his bestselling book Ruling Planets, which was published by HarperCollins in 200...

Snark attack

Venus, the planet of love and beauty, becomes quite the opposite when she is in combative Aries. You may have noticed how the people in your life have gotten bitchy, spiteful and unforgiving lately. Unfortunately things will only get worse when Venus conjoins Uranus on May 14 and squares Pluto on May 15. This is not a good time for romance. If anything you will have to draw upon those deeper reserves of love — like patience, tolerance and charity — when people you were always drawn to show off their less-than-flattering sides. You may wonder if this is who they truly are underneath, but reserve judgment. Consider this week as one long bad hair day when nobody will be looking their best.

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ARIES (March 20 – April 18)

It looks like you're going to do something that will really piss off your boyfriend on May 14 or 15. But instead of feeling guilty and raking yourself over the coals of self-recrimination, you might be surprised by the unexpected rush of relief and glee of triumph. For months you have done everything imaginable to generate more excitement, love and passion but he hasn't been able to muster up more than a low-burning flame. Well, you've certainly got his attention now so let's see what Mars coming out of retrograde on May 19 brings.

TAURUS (April 19 – May 19)

Torn between two lovers may make you feel like a fool, but the stars show that it's the lovers who are getting tired of these shenanigans. This will hit home on May 14 when the full moon eclipses Saturn at a sensitive degree of your solar horoscope. You could wake up in the morning feeling like it's time to make a decision only to discover that your decision has already been made for you. So who will you wind up with in the end? The one you were pouring your heart out to on March 2.

GEMINI (May 20 – June 19)

You'll want to be out and about this week because the Mercury/Venus sextile makes you especially effervescent, charming and beguiling. You may say you're not looking and that it's all harmless flirting, but the men trailing behind you with their huge puppy dog eyes will certainly wish it were otherwise. May 18 is both a red letter day and a red flag day for love. This could be when you meet someone you wouldn't date in a million years. He has a real bad boy reputation but he'd be willing to play nice just for you.

CANCER (June 20 – July 21)

It will feel like you've been hit by a bolt out of the blue when Venus conjoins Uranus on May 15. Uranus is the planet of revolution and change, but it's also the planet of revelations and epiphanies. Get ready for the clouds to part as you finally see what's going on in your love life. You could walk out on a longstanding relationship, throw yourself into the arms of a complete stranger or change sex preferences. Stranger things have been known to happen. In any case you'll really enjoy this new road you're traveling.

LEO (July 22 – Aug. 21)

This is a heavy time for you so take each day as it comes and try not to globalize. The full moon in Scorpio on the 14th will hit you right where you live with an intense bout of man-who-got-away blues, regrets for missed opportunities or empty nest syndrome. The effect will leave you feeling self-critical and darkly judgmental. You can't outrun this melancholia, but you don't have to surrender to it either. Reach out to loved ones and friends. They'll remind you of what a glowing presence you create in their lives.

VIRGO (Aug. 22 – Sept. 21)

Most women have a hard time being buddies with a man, but you don't share that problem. Guys see you as their confidante — someone they can talk to about their hopes and dreams; their worries and apprehensions. The downside to this is that you can wind up being treated like a sister instead of a romantic interest. That said you might be in for a surprise on May 15 when someone you never imagined harbored feelings for you shows that he actually does. This unexpected twist will take some getting used to.

LIBRA (Sept. 22 – Oct. 21)

Be forewarned that this will be one of the roughest weeks of the year for you. Your ruling planet Venus is traveling through an extremely rough patch of sky so you can expect to be on the wrong side of any argument, dispute or struggle involving loved ones. Even if you're right, they will still perceive you as being in the wrong. Given the incendiary tempers surrounding you it might be a good idea to apply the Emily Post rule for dinner party conversations — avoid discussing politics and religion and stick to the weather.

SCORPIO (Oct. 22 – Nov. 20)

Events surrounding the full moon on May 14 could leave you reeling. It's rare for a Scorpio to be caught off guard like this because you can usually see these things coming. Nevertheless a family member's meltdown will unnerve you and leave you asking what you did wrong. The short answer is: nothing. You have been there for this person to the best of your ability — and that in and of itself is better than most. Let the heated words go in one ear and out the other. This person will thank you for it later.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 21 – Dec. 20)

Not every love will turn out to be the love of your life. Some loves are here to help you through a rough time and some loves are meant to reawaken your heart that closed down a long time ago. That's the way you should be looking at the current guy you're seeing. Rebound relationship doesn't really describe it; it's more like he's a transitional one. You might wonder what's the point of seeing him if there's no real future together, but then again there's no disputing the benefits of sexual healing.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 21 – Jan. 18)

Have you been deluding yourself all this time? That's what you'll be wondering when planetary aspects on May 14 and 15 deliver yet another series of tough blows. Venus is at the epicenter of these world-shaking developments so you can expect to take a hit in your heart, your wallet and your faith in people. Yet through all this, there will be a resonant feeling that what's happening is for the best and you would be right to believe in that. By May 18 you'll clearly see that there's a higher purpose at work.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 19 – Feb. 17)

Expect lots of drama around the full moon on May 14. This is when something that's been lurking below the surface will finally come out. Maybe it's pent up frustration, anger or being pushed past the point of no return. It's apt to be nasty given the nature of Scorpio and the moon's occultation of Saturn, but you're made of pretty strong stuff. If anything you'll be relieved that a certain “secret” is finally out in the open. This will free you to do what should have been done with this relationship a long time ago.

PISCES (Feb. 18 – March 19)

Is that guy you're dating really that superficial? No. But his friends are. A romance rarely unfolds exclusively between two people. What goes on behind closed doors may be your private business, but outside the bedroom you're fair game as you'll see on Wednesday and Thursday when his friends rail against you. Maybe you don't make enough money, come from the wrong side of the tracks, or they're jealous of the attention he lavishes on you. Take it on the chin and refuse to answer in kind. This will get him to question the company he keeps.